Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-09-17
CHAPTER XVI.
BEFORE THE STATUE.

Il
BEFORE THE STATUE.
Il was night-dend highland the silence
| lay on the Browning City like cloud.
| Secretly, as evil doors, Sir Henry Curtis,
| L al ,po;,aas and myself threaded our way
| Gilou n the passages towards a by entrance
| f0tsp great throne chamber Once we were
| mes Us the fierce, rafting challenge of the
| scar. | gave the countersign and the
| msa grounded his spear end let us pass.
| Also, we were officers OF the queens body
guard, and in that capacity had right to
/ como and 60 unquestioned.
| We gained the hall in safety. SO empty
and SO still was it that even when we had
| passed, the sound Of our footsteps yet echoed
| up The lofty walls, vibrating family aud still
| more family against the cavern roof, ike
I ghosts of the footsteps of dead men haunting
| the place that once they trod.
1t was an eerie spot, and it oppressed me.
| The moon was full, and threw great pencils
| and patches of light through the high, win
| dowless openings in the walls, that lay pure
| and beautiful upon the blackness OF the mar
| BILE floor, like white flowers on coffin, One
of these silver arrows fell upon the statue OF
the sleeping Rademas, and of the angel form
| bent over him, illumining it, and small CIR
| Gle round it, with soft, clear light, remind-
ing me OF that winch CatnoHcS ihuuiiio .ho
| affairs of their cathedrals.
| Here by the statue we took our stand and
| xaited--Sir Henry and close together, UNI
| Aopogaas some PAGES Off in the darkness, so
| that could only just make out his towering
! outline leaning on the outline of an AK.
| So long did we wait that | almost fell
| asleep resting against the cold marble, but
| was suddenly aroused by hearing Curtis give
| a Quick, catching breath Then from far, FAR
! far away there came little sound, as though
| The statues that lined the walls were Whisper
1 ing to each other some message OF the ages.
1t was the faint sweep OF lady dress.
| Nearer it grew, and nearer yet we couia
| see a figure steal from patch to patch OF
| moonlight, and even hear the soft fall OF san-
| daled feet Another second and l saw the
| blacl, silhouette OF the old Zulu raise its arm
| In mute salute, and Nyleptha was before US.
| Oh. how beautiful she looked as she paused
| n moment Just within the circle OF tho taoon-
| light Her hand was pressed upon her heart'
| and her white bosom heaved bensatn H.
| Round her head broidered SCARF was loosely
| thrown, partially shadowing the perfectia race,
| and thus rendering IL even more loveiyi iol
| beauty, dependent rs IL is to a certain eAeehS
| upon the Imagination, is never so peau.iiui
| ms when IL Is half hid There she stood, radl'
i ant DuJ nan ShbeNiJ
| sweet 1t was but moment; but then ana
| there fell In love with her myself, and have
| remained so to this hour; for indeed sne
| looked more like an angel out OF heaven than
| n loving. passionate, mortal woman. Low We
| bowed before her, and then she spoke.
| AZ have Gomez she whispered, shut 1t was
1 at great risk Ye know not how 1 am
| watched. Tho priests watch me. oorais
| watches me with those great eyes Oh ners'
| MY very guards are spies upon me
| Nasta watches me too. Oh, let him be care
1 fuln and she stamped her foot. Let MN DC
| careful: am woman, and therefore naru
| to drive. Ay and / am n queen, too, ana
| can still ayenge Let him be careful, say,
| lest in place OF giving him my hand TAKE
| his bead:p and she ended the outburst Win a
| little sob and then smiled up at US bewltcn-
| ingly and laughed.
''Thou didsr bid me come hitler, my Loio
| Incubu" Curtis had taught her 70 cail MN
| sol. Doubtless it is about business OF lhe
/ state, fof know that thou art ever inii Oh
i.great ideas and plans for my welfare ana my
/ Deople's SO, even as IA queen should nave
| come. though greatly fear the dark alone;'
| and again she laughed and gave him glance
| from her gray eyes.
| Al this point | thought ii wise 70 move a
| little since secrets ''of the state" should not
| be made public property, but she would noe
let me go far, peremptorily stopping me
| within five yards or 50, saying that she feared
| surprise So it came to pass that, however
unwillingly, heard all that passed.
.Tbou knowest, Nyleptha, said Sir Henry,
"that ir was for none Of these things that
asked thee to me at this lonely place. Nylep-
tina, waste not the time in pleasantly, but
| listen to me, for--I love thee
AS no said the words | saw her face break
up, as it were, and change. The coquetry
went out of 10, and in its place there shone
| great light OF love, which Seemed TO giorlfy
| it. and mako it ike that Of the marble angel
overhead. ] could not help thinking that 10
must have been a touch Of prophetic instinct
which made the long dead Rademas linn IN
the features Of the angel Of his inspiring VS.
ion SO strange likeness Of his own descend
ant. Sir Henry also must have observed and
been struck by the likeness, for, catching the
look upon Nyleptha's face, he glanced quickly
from it TO the moonlit statue, and then back
again at his beloved.
Thou sayest thou dost love me-" she SAID,
ia q low voice, "and thy voice rings true; but
how am to know that thou dost speak the
TRUTH Though" she went on, with proud hui
mility, and in the stately third person which
is so largely used by the Zu-Vendi, u be as